Solicitor Apprenticeship

Michelmores LLP; Exeter; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK law firm is offering a legal apprenticeship in Exeter. The role involves assisting lawyers with document review, legal research, drafting, and case management over a 6-year programme. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with GCSEs in English and Maths at grade C/4. Starting salary is £23,000 annually, increasing throughout the apprenticeship. Position offers a mix of practical on-the-job training and study at the University of Law.

Responsibilities

• Find, analyze, and assess documents to extract relevant information.
• Recognize when legal research is needed and use appropriate methods.
• Develop strategies and solutions based on client needs.
• Provide advice informed by legal analysis.
• Draft documents from scratch addressing all legal issues.
• Undertake effective advocacy in court.
• Negotiate solutions to clients' issues.
• Plan and manage legal cases and transactions.

Skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Attention to detail

Organisation skills

Customer care skills

Problem solving skills

Presentation skills

Administrative skills

Number skills

Analytical skills

Logical

Team working

Creative

Initiative

Non judgemental

Patience

Education

GCSE in English (grade C/4)

GCSE in Maths (grade C/4)

A Level in No Specific Subject (grade C/4) (x3)

Job description

Overview

Michelmores is a leading full-service UK law firm where people thrive on delivering complex and challenging work on high-profile assignments for quality clients.

Our expertise covers everything from corporate and commercial, to transactional real estate and development, from agriculture to construction, and from family law to complex private wealth work. We cover a range of sectors, including technology and innovation, consumer brands, public sector and the sustainable economy. Our Firm fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture that encourages innovation and creativity. We are passionate about supporting and developing our Apprentices, Trainees and Graduates, offering continuous professional development to help you thrive in your career.

https://www.michelmores.com/

Responsibilities

• Find, analyse, and assess documents to extract relevant information, including recognising when additional information is needed, interpreting and evaluating information obtained, recording and presenting information accurately and clearly.
• Recognise when legal research is needed and use appropriate methods and resources, including identifying, finding and assessing the relevance of sources of law, interpreting, evaluating and applying research results, recording and presenting findings of research accurately and clearly.
• Develop strategies and solutions, including an understanding of a client's commercial and personal circumstances, their needs, objectives, priorities and constraints.
• Provide advice which is informed by appropriate and factual legal analysis and identifying the consequences of different options.
• Draft documents from scratch and use precedents which address all legal and factual issues, complying with all formalities and using clear, accurate and succinct language.
• Undertake effective spoken and written advocacy in court and outside of formal court hearings, including effective preparation by identifying and mastering relevant facts and legal principles, organising facts to support an argument or position, presenting a reasoned argument in a clear, logical, succinct persuasive way, making appropriate references to legal authority, complying with formalities, dealing with witnesses appropriately, responding effectively to questions or opposing arguments, identifying strengths and weaknesses from different parties' perspectives.
• Negotiate solutions to clients' issues, including identifying all parties' interests, objectives and limits, developing and formulating best options for meeting parties' objectives, presenting options for compromises persuasively, responding to options presented by the other side, developing compromises between options or parties.
• Plan and manage legal cases and transactions, including applying relevant processes and procedures to progress matters effectively, assessing, communicating and managing risk, bringing a transaction or case to a conclusion.

Training schedule

Throughout your apprenticeship you will spend four days a week working closely with qualified lawyers and other professionals in a team and have one day to study at the University of Law.

Education

GCSE in: English (grade C/4), Maths (grade C/4)

A Level in: No Specific Subject (grade C/4) (x3)

Qualifications and skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience.

Salary and benefits

£23,000 a year Check minimum wage rates. Starting salary is paid at the current Real Living Wage, with annual increases throughout the programme, rising to match trainee solicitor pay in the later stages.

Hours and start date

Hours Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm. 35 hours a week. Start date Tuesday 1 September 2026. Duration 6 years. Positions available 4. Work most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You'll learn on the job by getting hands‑on experience.

Programme structure

Years 1-2: First 6 months – Get to know the firm in a Business Services Team (like HR or Risk). Next 18 months – Join a legal team, starting in admin and progressing to a Paralegal role.
Years 3 & 4: Complete 2 x 1‑year seats in different legal teams continuing as a Paralegal, but taking on more responsibility.
Years 5 & 6: Follow the same structure as our Training Contract. You will get to experience 4x 6‑month seats and choose where you rotate. By the end, you'll be a fully qualified solicitor.